44°48′15″N 68°46′19″W / 44.8043°N 68.7719°W / 44.8043; -68.7719

The Bangor Public Library is the public library of Bangor, Maine. It shares the URSUS online cataloging system with the University of Maine and other Maine libraries.[3]

The library's roots date to 1830, when the Bangor Mechanic Association assembled a private collection of books.[4] In 1873, it absorbed several other associations' libraries and became the Bangor Mechanic Association Public Library.[5]

In 1883, former U.S. Congressman and lumber baron Samuel F. Hersey left the City of Bangor a $100,000 bequest, which the city used to form a municipally owned public library. The Mechanic Association's 20,000 books formed the core collection. In 1905, the small membership fee was abolished and the library became truly open to all.[6]

By 1911, the library's collection had grown to 70,000 books. Then came the Great Fire of 1911, which destroyed the library along with most of the Bangor Business District.[7] The library reopened that May with the 29 books pulled from the ashes and 1,300 others that had been on loan.[8] (Today, the library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Great Fire of 1911 Historic District.[9])

In 1913, the library's new building, designed by the Boston architectural firm Peabody and Stearns, opened its doors near the high school.[2]

In 1997, the library was renovated and a new wing added (designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects), thanks to a donation from Stephen and Tabitha King.[10][11] King's story The Library Policeman was inspired by his 10-year-old son's expressed fear of returning overdue books to the Bangor Public Library because of "the library police".[12]

In 2014, the library was renovated again; plans included a new glass atrium designed by Scott Simons Architects.[13]

On an interesting note, the library contains the couch that former VP Hannibal Hamlin drew his last breath upon while playing cards too hard.[14]

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Bangor Public Library". Bangor in Focus. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  3. ^ "Bangor Public Library". libraries.org. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "SEO Services for Doctors - Digital Marketing | Ekwa Marketing".
  5. ^ "Bangor Public Library".
  6. ^ The American library annual, p. 327
  7. ^ Maine library bulletin, Volumes 1-6, p. 2
  8. ^ Report of the Public Library 1917, p. 16
  9. ^ "Bangor Historic Preservation Program" (PDF). 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  10. ^ Flood, Alison (March 22, 2013). "Stephen King and his wife pledge $3m to Maine Library". The Guardian. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  11. ^ Kellogg, Carolyn (March 21, 2013). "Stephen King and wife Tabitha pledge $3 million to Maine library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Stephen J. Spignesi, The Essential Stephen King (2003), p. 127
  13. ^ Bangor Public Library (March 5, 2014). "Bangor Daily News". Bangor Public Library Renovation Tentatively Scheduled for June. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  14. ^ "The Bangor Public Library Contains a Creepy Piece of U.S. Presidential Memorabilia". Q97.9. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor_Public_Library
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